It's getting pretty busy it there!
With more grey nomads and other travellers hitting the open road than ever before, some are starting to ask the question … ‘where on Earth are they all going to stay?’
Adding to the stress, of course, has been the long-term trend of traditional beachside parks slowly being sold off to developers.
With many camping areas and caravan parks around the country bursting at the proverbial seams in peak season, the only solution would appear to build more sites.
But finding suitable land in places where travellers want to go is not always easy.
Sometimes, circumstances have to fall in your favour.
In Ipswich near Brisbane, a 6.6-hectare block of land that was previously approved for a residential estate – before that plan was scuppered by massive flooding – now looks set to become a camping ground and caravan park.
Brisbane Land Co has submitted a development application to Ipswich City Council to establish the facility at One Mile. It would consist of 46 powered sites with a communal space, 26 car parking spaces, and an office.
“The balance of the site will be maintained as public open space,” the application notes. “It is anticipated that the site will service the travelling public, backpackers and regional visitors to Ipswich who are looking for alternative and flexible accommodation.
The Chronicle newspaper says the application claims the site would be well suited as it has an outlook to the Bremer River.
A pre-lodgement meeting was held with the council in 2019 where it was learnt any permanent residential uses for the site would not now be supported due to the flood risks. Previous approval for a subdivision at the site took place prior to the 2011 floods, and that development fell down due to a policy change in response to flood risks at the site.
“The potential for use of the site for temporary accommodation – camping ground and caravan park – has been determined with consideration of the unusual circumstances applying to the land,” the application notes. “Historical approvals for subdivision have been partly enacted … in this regard, the land has been partly improved with formed and constructed bitumen access roads including kerb and channelling, street lighting and underground urban utilities installed.”
The site adjoins a large residential estate to the south, a park reserve and the Bremer River to the east, homes and a park reserve to the north and Chubb St and homes to the west.
A new Campground for Twelve Mile Creek Nsw
50 large sites, water to fill tank, Camp kitchen, Amenities, Dump Point
Opening in May 2021